Evapotranspiration unit for re-programming an irrigation controller

Abstract

An evapotranspiration (ET) unit includes a first communication link, a processor and a second communication link. The first communication link receives actual ET data from a plurality of environmental sensors. The processor calculates changes to a set of watering schedules of a predetermined watering program based on the actual ET data. The changes can increase or decrease the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected stations. The second communication link transmits the changes to a separate irrigation controller.

1. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a box-like enclosure; 
 a processor associated with the boxlike enclosure; 
 a first communication link for enabling direct communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data; 
 at least one control mounted in the box-like enclosure and operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information; 
 programming that enables the processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and 
 a second communication link for enabling communication between the processor and a separate irrigation controller that allows the processor to turn the plurality of stations ON and OFF through the irrigation controller in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       2. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the at least one control is one of a plurality of manually actuable controls that enable inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate. 
     
     
       3. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the first communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       4. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the first communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       5. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the second communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       6. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the second communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       7. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the processor is mounted in the box-like enclosure. 
     
     
       8. The ET unit of  claim 1  wherein the programming enables the processor to determine that an inputted plant type is within a predetermined range of a wilt point and in response to the determination cause watering through the irrigation controller to prevent plants from dying. 
     
     
       9. The ET unit of  claim 1  and further comprising a display mounted in the box-like enclosure and controllable by the processor. 
     
     
       10. The ET unit of  claim 9  wherein the programming supports a graphic user interface (GUI) indicated on the display consisting of a plurality of different menus and prompts. 
     
     
       11. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a processor; 
 a first communications link that enables direct communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors on an irrigation site each capable of generating an actual component of ET data; 
 controls operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information; 
 programming that enables the processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and 
 a second communication link that enables communication between the processor and a separate irrigation controller that allows the processor to turn the plurality of stations ON and OFF through the irrigation controller in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       12. The ET unit of  claim 11  wherein the controls include a plurality of manually actuable controls for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate. 
     
     
       13. The ET unit of  claim 11  wherein the first communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       14. The ET unit of  claim 11  wherein the first communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       15. The ET unit of  claim 11  wherein the second communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       16. The ET unit of  claim 11  wherein the second communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       17. The ET unit of  claim 11  wherein the processor is mounted in a box-like enclosure. 
     
     
       18. The ET unit of  claim 17  and further comprising a display mounted in the box-like enclosure and controllable by the processor. 
     
     
       19. The ET unit of  claim 18  wherein the programming supports a graphic user interface (GUI) indicated on the display consisting of a plurality of different menus and prompts. 
     
     
       20. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a processor and a memory for storing programming executable by the processor; 
 circuitry that enables a first communications link that allows direct communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating an actual component of ET data; 
 at least one manually actual control operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; 
 programming that enables the processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and 
 circuitry that enables a second communication link between the processor and an input port of a separate irrigation controller that allows the processor to turn the plurality of stations ON and OFF through the irrigation controller in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       21. The ET unit of  claim 20  and further comprising a box-like enclosure containing the processor and the memory and providing a support for the manually actuable control. 
     
     
       22. The ET unit of  claim 20  wherein the at least one manually actuable control is one of a plurality of manually actuable controls that enable inputting of the further ET-related information. 
     
     
       23. The ET unit of  claim 20  wherein the programming enables the processor to determine that an inputted plant type is within a predetermined range of a wilt point and in response to the determination cause watering through the irrigation controller to prevent plants from dying. 
     
     
       24. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a processor and a memory for storing programming executable by the processor; 
 circuitry that enables a first communications link that allows direct communication between the processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating an actual component of ET data; 
 at least one manually actual control operably connected to the processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; 
 programming that enables the processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of a plurality of stations; and 
 circuitry that enables a second communication link between the processor and an input port of a separate irrigation controller that allows the processor to re-program the separate irrigation controller in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       25. The ET unit of  claim 24  and further comprising a box-like enclosure containing the processor and the memory and providing a support for the manually actuable control. 
     
     
       26. The ET unit of  claim 24  wherein the at least one manually actuable control is one of a plurality of manually actuable controls that enable inputting of the further ET-related information. 
     
     
       27. The ET unit of  claim 24  wherein the programming enables the processor to determine that an inputted plant type is within a predetermined range of a wilt point and cause immediate watering by the irrigation controller. 
     
     
       28. The ET unit of  claim 24  wherein the programming enables the processor to store actual ET data throughout a predetermined time interval and in the event of a power failure and to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the stored actual ET data. 
     
     
       29. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a box-like enclosure; 
 a first processor associated with the boxlike enclosure; 
 a first communication link for enabling direct communication between the first processor and a sensor unit including a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating a signal representing an actual component of ET data; 
 at least one control mounted in the box-like enclosure and operably connected to the first processor for inputting further ET-related information; 
 programming that enables the first processor to calculate at least one optimum watering schedule based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for selected ones of at least one station; and 
 a second communication link for enabling communication between the first processor and a second processor of a separate irrigation controller that allows the second processor to receive schedule data from the first processor and turn at least one station of the irrigation controller ON and OFF in accordance with the optimum watering schedule. 
 
     
     
       30. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the at least one control is one of a plurality of manually actuable controls that enable inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate. 
     
     
       31. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the first communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       32. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the first communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       33. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the second communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       34. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the second communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       35. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the first processor is mounted in the box-like enclosure. 
     
     
       36. The ET unit of  claim 29  wherein the programming enables the processor to determine that an inputted plant type is within a predetermined range of a wilt point and in response to the determination cause watering through the irrigation controller to prevent plants from dying. 
     
     
       37. The ET unit of  claim 29  and further comprising a display mounted in the box-like enclosure and controllable by the first processor. 
     
     
       38. The ET unit of  claim 37  wherein the programming supports a graphic user interface (GUI) indicated on the display consisting of a plurality of different menus and prompts. 
     
     
       39. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a first processor; 
 a first communications link that enables direct communication between the first processor and a sensor unit including a plurality of environmental sensors on an irrigation site each capable of generating an actual component of ET data; 
 controls operably connected to the first processor for inputting further ET-related information; 
 programming that enables the first processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for at least one station; and 
 a second communication link that enables communication between the first processor and a second processor of a separate irrigation controller that allows the second processor of the irrigation controller to turn the plurality of stations ON and OFF based on the information from the first processor of the ET unit in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       40. The ET unit of  claim 39  wherein the controls include a plurality of manually actuable controls for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate. 
     
     
       41. The ET unit of  claim 39  wherein the first communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       42. The ET unit of  claim 39  wherein the first communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       43. The ET unit of  claim 39  wherein the second communication link includes a hard wired connection. 
     
     
       44. The ET unit of  claim 39  wherein the second communication link includes a wireless connection. 
     
     
       45. The ET unit of  claim 39  wherein the first processor is mounted in a box-like enclosure. 
     
     
       46. The ET unit of  claim 45  and further comprising a display mounted in the box-like enclosure and controllable by the first processor. 
     
     
       47. The ET unit of  claim 46  wherein the programming supports a graphic user interface (GUI) indicated on the display consisting of a plurality of different menus and prompts. 
     
     
       48. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a first processor and a memory for storing programming executable by the first processor; 
 circuitry that enables a first communications link that allows direct communication between the first processor and a sensor unit containing a second processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating an actual component of ET data; 
 at least one manually actual control operably connected to the first processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; 
 programming that enables the first processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for at least one station; and 
 circuitry that enables a second communication link between the first processor and a third processor of a separate irrigation controller that allows the third processor of the irrigation controller to turn the plurality of stations ON and OFF based on the information from the first processor of the ET unit in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       49. The ET unit of  claim 48  and further comprising a box-like enclosure containing the first processor and the memory and providing a support for the manually actuable control. 
     
     
       50. The ET unit of  claim 48  wherein the at least one manually actuable control is one of a plurality of manually actuable controls that enable inputting of the further ET-related information. 
     
     
       51. The ET unit of  claim 48  wherein the programming enables the first processor to determine that an inputted plant type is within a predetermined range of a wilt point and in response to the determination cause watering through the irrigation controller to prevent plants from dying. 
     
     
       52. An evapotranspiration (ET) unit, comprising:
 a first processor and a memory for storing programming executable by the first processor; 
 circuitry that enables a first communications link that allows direct communication between the first processor and a sensor unit including a second processor and a plurality of environmental sensors each capable of generating an actual component of ET data; 
 at least one manually actual control operably connected to the first processor for inputting further ET-related information selected from the group consisting of plant type, soil condition, growth stage and sprinkler precipitation rate; 
 programming that enables the first processor to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the actual ET data and the ET-related information including increases and decreases in the frequency and/or length of ON times for at least one station; and 
 circuitry that enables a second communication link between the first processor and an input port of a separate irrigation controller that allows the first processor to re-program the separate irrigation controller in accordance with the optimum watering schedules. 
 
     
     
       53. The ET unit of  claim 52  and further comprising a box-like enclosure containing the first processor and the memory and providing a support for the manually actuable control. 
     
     
       54. The ET unit of  claim 52  wherein the at least one manually actuable control is one of a plurality of manually actuable controls that enable inputting of the further ET-related information. 
     
     
       55. The ET unit of  claim 52  wherein the programming enables the first processor to determine that an inputted plant type is within a predetermined range of a wilt point and cause immediate watering by the irrigation controller. 
     
     
       56. The ET unit of  claim 52  wherein the programming enables the first processor to store actual ET data throughout a predetermined time interval and in the event of a power failure and to calculate optimum watering schedules based on the stored actual ET data.